Carers Australia is governed by a Board of directors, consisting of eight directors nominated by the member state and territory carer organisations. Additional directors may be co-opted on the basis of their skills and experience.
The Board of Directors are responsible for the governance of the organisation. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for its management
Sonia is a British qualified chartered accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has over 20 years experience in executive positions and board advisory across the healthcare and media industries.
In 2016 she founded Once Upon A School Limited, a charity that assists children to build self-esteem and confidence through technology and creative arts programs, and in 2019 she established the Shremaya Foundation, which promotes inter-faith and cultural understanding through cultural arts.
Sonia became an independent member of the Carers Australia Board Finance, Audit, Risk and Governance Sub-Committee in 2017. She became a member of the Board and was elected Chairperson in November 2019.
Bruce is a registered tax agent, registered auditor, registered company auditor, registered SMSF auditor, holds a limited AFSL licence, and is the Managing Principal at KSG with a career in accounting, taxation, and assurance spanning more than 25 years.
Bruce has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, and is a member of Australia and New Zealand Chartered Accountants and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He joined the Board of Carers Australia in November 2019 as the nominee of Carers NSW, and was elected Treasurer.
Brett is an Honorary Visiting Lecturer in Law at the Australian National University’s College of Law in Canberra, and is also undertaking economics and public policy research at Harvard University.
He has more than 30 years’ experience as a senior executive, lawyer and director in the public and private sectors, and has acted as lead negotiator for Australia in various United Nations organisations. In 2011 he was appointed by the Attorney General to be the inaugural Chair of the Commonwealth Legal Network Services Board, a position he held until 2014.
He currently sits on the boards of four organisations in the university, technology, and disability sectors, and is the Deputy Chair of Carers Tasmania. He previously served as a Director of Carers Australia from 2014-2016.
Brett returned to the Carers Australia Board in November 2019.
Callum is the Head of Strategy & Transformation at the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
He has extensive experience in public administration, law, medical science, corporate services, governance, strategy, and policy development across a range of industries within the public, commercial and not-for-profit sectors.
Callum is also a member of the Board of Carers Victoria and its Governance Committee, and is a member of the Board of the Aurora Foundation.
He has been a member of the Carers Australia Board since November 2019.
Jenny has over 35 years’ experience as an academic in the School of Management at the University of South Australia.
She holds qualifications in social work and urban and regional planning, and is an Emeritus Fellow of the Council of Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education of which she was a founding member.
She also has 30 years’ experience as a Professional Conference Organiser and has been an active member of the Carers SA Board since 2014, initially as a co-opted member and currently as an elected member.
She was appointed to the Carers Australia Board as the nominee of Carers SA in February 2020.
Linda is a non-executive director and Principal of a strategic communications and marketing business. She has over 40 years’ experience in communications and marketing, both in the public and private sectors, and 25 years’ experience as a Board member with several organisations.
Linda has a Master of Arts (Communications) degree from Monash University and currently sits on the Board of Carers WA. She cared for both her mother and father, her mother having suffered a stroke and her father being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s soon after.
Linda joined the Carers Australia Board in April 2020.
Cathy has four decades of experience leading people and managing organisations and projects, many as a Chief Executive Officer.
She has a Masters in Metaphysical Science, a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching TAFE, as well as Diplomas in Community Welfare, Frontline Management, Training and Assessment, and Business Management.
More recently, as the Federal Member for Herbert, Cathy’s work involved navigating social and economic policy, driving strategic direction, and serving on various committees.
She has also held the positions of President and Board member of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) and Board member of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA).
Cathy has lived experience of the challenges that face carers every day, both as an individual and a leader.
She joined the Board of Carers Australia in August 2020, representing Carers QLD.
Steve Sant has been employed in the health industry for over 40 years, is now semi-retired and works part time in the motorcycle industry. He has broad experience in all areas of the health industry, having worked in positions ranging from registered nurse to Head Office executive management roles. Steve has worked in both State and Federal government and the private and not-for-profit sectors. His appointments include CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, Company Secretary and Network Manager of the Australian Medicare Local Alliance, CEO of the ACT Medicare Local, CEO of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and CEO of Health Purchasing Victoria. Steve is a graduate of the AICD company directors course and has served on a number of Boards as a non-executive director. He is currently a director of Carers ACT.
With her background in management at IBM, Optus, and now Jacana Energy, Marie-Louise has management experience in complex businesses and is interested in delivering value, integrity and strong governance.
She has a strong history of leadership in community organisations, including her current roles as Deputy Chair of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and Non-Executive Director of Carers NT.
Marie-Louise has previously and is currently caring for family members and is passionate about the delivery of services to regional communities, especially for the aged. In 2019 Marie-Louise completed the AICD course ‘Governing to Protect Vulnerable People’.
Marie-Louise is a Life Member and Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences.
She joined the Carers Australia Board in July 2020, representing Carers NT.